"Don't be long, my boy. Tea will be waiting."
"All right, dad. Lay hold of this oar, Vic, and let's get her moored."
"Why, you're wet, Mr Leslie," said the tall gentleman, shaking hands.
"Only sea-water, sir. It's nothing."
"But," said the former speaker, looking quickly from one to the other,
and his handsome, thoughtful face seemed troubled, "has there been
anything wrong?"
"Harry fell in," said Louise, speaking rather quickly and excitedly;
"and Mr Leslie--"
"Ah!" ejaculated the tall gentleman excitedly.
"It was nothing, sir," said Leslie hastily. "He swam in among the
rocks--into a cave, and he was a long time gone, and I went after him;
that's all."
"But, my dear boy, you must make haste and change your things."
"I shall not hurt, Mr Vine."
"And--and--look here. Make haste and come on then to us. There will be
a meal ready. It's Harry's last day at home."
"Oh, thank you, Mr Vine; I don't think I'll come to-night."
"But you have been one of the party so far, and I should--Louie, my
dear--"
"We shall be very glad if you will come, Mr Leslie," said Louise, in
response to her father's hesitating words and look, and there was a
calm, ingenuous invitation in her words that made the young man's heart
throb.
"I, too, shall be very glad," he said quietly.
"That's right, that's right," said Mr Vine, laying one of his long thin
white hands on the young man's arm; and then changing its position, so
that he could take hold of one of the buttons on his breast. Then
turning quickly: "Madelaine's coming, of course."
"Louie says so," said the girl quietly.
"To be sure; that's right, my dear; that's right," said the old man,
beaming upon her as he took one of her hands to hold and pat it in his.
"You'll come too, Van?"
"I? No, no. I've some bills of lading to look over."
"Yah!" ejaculated Uncle Luke with a snarl.
"Yes; bills of lading, you idle old cynic. I can't spend my time
fishing."
"Pity you can't," said Uncle Luke. "Money, money, always money."
"Hear him, Mr Leslie?" said Van Heldre smiling. "Are you disposed to
follow his teachings?"
"I'm afraid not," said Leslie.
"Not he," snarled Uncle Luke.
"But you will come, Van?" said Mr Vine.
"My dear fellow, I wish you would not tempt me. There's work to do.
Then there's my wife."
"Bring Mrs Van Heldre too," said Louise, laying her hand on his.
"Ah, you temptress," he cried merrily.
"It's Harry's last evening," said Mr Vine.
"Look here," said Van Heldre, "will you sing me my old favourite if I
come, Louie?"
"Yes; and you shall have a duet too."
"Ah, never mind the duet," said Van Heldre laughingly; "I can always
hear Maddy at home. There, out of pocket again by listening to
temptation. I'll come."
"Come and join us too, Luke," said Mr Vine.
"No!" snapped the old fisher.
"Do, uncle," said Louise.
"Shan't," he snarled, stooping to pick up his heavy basket.
"But it's Harry's last--"
"Good job too," snarled the old man.
"I'm going your way, Mr Luke Vine," said Leslie. "Let me carry the
basket."
"Thank ye; I'm not above carrying my own fish," said the old man
sharply; and he raised and gave the basket a swing to get it upon his
back, but tottered with the weight, and nearly fell on the uneven rocks.
"There, it is too heavy for you," said Leslie, taking possession of the
basket firmly; and Louise Vine's eyes brightened.
"Be too heavy for you when you get as old as I am," snarled the old man.
"I dare say," said Leslie quietly; and they went off together.
"Luke's in fine form this afternoon," said Van Heldre, nodding and
smiling.
"Yes," said the brother, looking after him wistfully. "We shall wait
till you come, Mr Leslie," he shouted, giving vent to an after-thought.
The young man turned and waved his hand.
"Rather like Leslie," said Van Heldre. "Maddy, you'll have to set your
cap at him."
Madelaine looked up at him and laughed.
"Yes, poor Luke!" said Mr Vine thoughtfully, as he stooped and picked
up a small net and a tin can, containing the treasures he had found in
sundry rock pools. "I'm afraid we are a very strange family, Van," he
added, as they walked back towards the little town.
"Very, old fellow," said his friend, smiling. "I'll be with you before
Leslie gets back, wife and the necessary change of dress permitting."
Volume 1, Chapter IV.